Wedge-tailed eagles targeted

Wheatbelt residents are being encouraged to use strategies to reduce the risk of livestock falling prey to wedge-tailed eagles this lambing season.

Parks and Wildlife Service regional wildlife officer Melanie Rowley said there were various ways to help protect livestock from Australia’s largest bird of prey on private property.

“Often eagles are seen to be the culprits but they can often be innocently hanging around to clean up after a fox kill or after the death of a sick animal,” she said.

“People can apply for a damage licence to scare the birds.

“Regularly baiting and culling foxes on farming property is another option as foxes are often responsible for killing or distressing young lambs, which in turn attracts eagles.

“Providing an alternative food source for the eagles by placing any carcass in a quiet paddock preferably away from mobs of ewes and lambs can also help.

“Additionally, placing lambing ewes or moving ewes and lambs to small well-sheltered paddocks near the homestead so ewes are present to defend and feed lambs may assist with protecting them from eagles.

“It can also help to time lambing to coincide with neighbouring farmers so the eagles are not attracted to only one area as the eagles can guard areas up to 100km2.

“Frequent monitoring of lambs and ewes during the lambing period can also aid in keeping eagles away.

“As wedge-tailed eagles are territorial animals, relocating them to other areas is not effective because it allows other birds to move into the area,” she said.

Ms Rowley said wedge-tailed eagles are a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.

For more information people are encouraged to contact the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife Service Narrogin office on 9881 9200